Microarray analysis reveals the changes of circular RNA expression and molecular mechanism in acute lung injury mouse model

Abstract

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe disease with sudden onset, rapid progression, poor treatment response, and high mortality. An increasing number of studies had found that circular RNAs (circRNAs) has significant functions in various diseases, while the role of circRNAs in ALI is not yet clear. The purpose of this study was to find circRNAs related to ALI and their mechanism of action. Expression profiles of lung circRNAs and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were analyzed by microarray in the ALI mice models and healthy controlled mice. Differentially expressed RNAs were identified, function and pathways were analyzed by bioinformatics analysis. Moreover, the results of the microarray were verified by real‐time PCR. We identified 2262 differentially expressed mRNAs and 581 circRNAs between ALI mice and control. Validation of candidate circRNAs by real‐time PCR indicates that the majority of circRNAs identified by microarray are reliable and worthy of further study. ALI induced circRNAs primarily function in the metabolic regulatory process. Moreover, differentially expressed circRNAs were mainly involved in signaling pathways of mitogen‐activated protein kinases, focal adhesion, FoxO, neurotrophin, and Wnt. In addition, a competitive endogenous RNA network was constructed to further interpret the molecular mechanism of ALI. This study observed significantly changed circRNAs profiles in LPS‐induced mouse model and revealed a potential role of circRNAs in ALI.

CircC3P1 attenuated pro‐inflammatory cytokine production and cell apoptosis in acute lung injury induced by sepsis through modulating miR‐21

“…This in ALI model mice, compared with normal mice via cricRNA microarray analysis. 14 To the best of our knowledge, the study presented in this report is the first investigation to explore the role of circC3P1 in ALI induced by sepsis. Such findings may offer important insights into the treatment of ALI.…”

“…Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel type of noncoding endogenous RNAs, can modulate the gene expression post‐transcriptionally via serving as miRNA sponges 13 . Recently, Li et al have reported the changes of circRNAs level and potential molecular mechanism in the ALI mice model by microarray analysis, suggesting that circRNAs make a vital contribution to the development of ALI 14 . CircC3P1 was derived from exons 27 to 29 of complement component 3 precursor pseudogene (C3P1) 15 .…”

Protective effects of P2X7R antagonist in sepsis‐induced acute lung injury in mice via regulation of circ_0001679 and circ_0001212 and downstream Pln, Cdh2, and Nprl3 expression

“…20 Increasing evidence has shown that circRNAs can regulate gene transcription by functioning as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA). 20,21 circRNA can sponge microRNA (miRNA) with functional miRNA binding sites and then inhibit miRNA activity to release inhibited target genes of mRNA.…”

“…To our knowledge, only two studies have shown the involvement of circRNAs in sepsis-induced ALI. Li et al 21 observed significantly changed circRNA profiles and revealed a potential role of circRNAs in a mouse model of LPS-induced ALI. Bao et al 22 reported many circRNAs of dysregulated expression in the pulmonary macrophages of mice with sepsis-induced ALI.…”

<p>Identification and Bioinformatic Analysis of Circular RNA Expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease</p>

“…19 Moreover, the circRNA expression profile has been analyzed in the context of a variety of respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, 20,21 pulmonary fibrosis, 22 pulmonary tuberculosis 23 and acute lung injury. 24 To date, the expression profile and ceRNA network of circRNAs in COPD patients have been largely unexplored.…”